Page 1 Monash Bulletin April 2025 learn to swim Inside this issue: Suburban Rail Loop Animal Registration Kitchen Caddy Liners Learn to Swim Page 2 Start Up, Invest and Grow in Monash Start Up, Invest and Grow in Monash is your launchpad to business success. This month-long program connects entrepreneurs with valuable resources, expert education and powerful networks to thrive in Monash. Throughout May, we are hosting a series of events and workshops, including: Funding pathways: A guide for Victorian startups,5 May,12pm–1pm, Online Women in business: Strategies for growth and success, 6 May,6.30pm–8.30pm, Eastern Innovation, Mulgrave Digital transformation: Enhancing customer journeys: 8 May, 10am–12pm, Clayton Community Centre Winning government grants and tenders: 12 May, 10am–12pm, Monash Civic Centre, Glen Waverley Future trends in AI and harnessing them for your business: 26 May,7am–9am, Monash Civic Centre, Glen Waverley Spaces are limited, so book early. Explore: monash.vic.gov.au/start-up-invest-grow Businesses are welcome to attend multiple sessions. Eligibility requirements may apply. SRL construction update   Work on the Victorian Government Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) project is ramping up, with construction underway at three major sites in Monash: Clayton, Glen Waverley, and Monash University. For detailed information on construction activities and disruptions, visit the Victorian Government Big Build website (bigbuild.vic.gov.au). The SRL team will also be distributing local updates to residents and businesses near major works. Council continues to meet regularly with the SRL team to ensure works are planned to limit disruption as much as possible while this important transport project is delivered. We encourage people to continue supporting local businesses near construction. In particular, businesses along Railway Parade North in Glen Waverley remain open while that street is closed to traffic – with parking available nearby in our Euneva Car Park. Thank you for your support It was another incredible Clayton Festival thanks to the support of our community, staff, volunteers and emergency services. This year the FREE community event featured not only live entertainment, creative activities and roving performers, but a series of special live performances by Dora, brought to the community thanks to Suburban Rail Loop, which attracted an additional 1,000 attendees to Clayton Theatrette. Page 3 Message from Mayor Cr Paul Klisaris I was delighted this month to attend the launch of the stunning Sharing Country First Nations Artwork, by Wurundjeri and Dja Dja Wurrung artist Sam Richards, at the Oakleigh South Child and Family Hub. In creating this piece, Sam achieved something that many artists strive for – to resonate with community and place. The artwork was created with input from local kindergarten children and the Oakleigh South Girl Guides and looks wonderful on our unique building. The Oakleigh South hub is one of four early years hubs that we have constructed in Monash with our latest hub, Dorrington, in Mount Waverley. These facilities are designed to provide families with access to essential services under one roof – a one stop shop for young children and their families. From maternal and child health, sleep settling services and playgroups to space for community groups such as the Girl Guides, these are facilities that really meet the needs of our community. As a grandfather, I know how important these services are to those caring for young children and I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of the Monash team in helping secure Victorian Government funding to support these hubs that will be there for our families for many years to come. I am pleased to represent Monash in the Municipal Association of Victoria - Make Good Happen - federal election campaign. The campaign gives the local government sector a unified voice as we advocate to bring about positive change within our communities across the state. The - Make Good Happen - campaign has a focus on 5 key pillars: * Make Community Infrastructure Happen * Make Safer Roads Happen * Make Fairer Energy Happen * Make Resilient Communities Happen * Make Local Democracy Happen. Keep an eye out for more on this campaign in the months ahead. As always, please get in touch if you would like to discuss any matter with me: 9518 3524 or paul.klisaris@monash.vic.gov.au The Great Clothing Exchange returns Do you or your family have good quality preloved clothing you have outgrown or no longer wear?  Sustainable Monash is hosting another FREE mega clothing exchange event for kids, teens and adults. Get along to Monash Civic Centre on Sunday 23 March, from 10am-1pm, to donate or exchange good quality preloved clothing for the same number of good quality preloved items.  Reusing clothes is a great way to join the sharing community and means we are keeping these items in circularity rather than going to landfill, helping to create a more sustainable Monash.  This is a FREE ticketed event. Register at monash.vic.gov.au/clothes-swap Page 4 CARING for our four-legged friends   Monash cats and dogs are much-loved members of our community. One way you can show you care about your pet is to register them, making it easier to find them if they go missing. If your pet should go missing, and is picked up by a Council officer, we can contact you straight away and reunite you with your beloved canine or feline - if we have your registration details. All dogs and cats three months and older must be registered and microchipped as a legal requirement by 10 April 2025. It is the pet owner responsibility to ensure their pet is safely contained at home and does not wander. For more info: 9518 3555 monash.vic.gov.au/Animal-Registration More low-cost pet vaccinations If you are looking to get your dog or cat vaccinated and missed out on our recent low-cost vaccination events – we have got good news. We have more sessions available in April and May. In partnership with RSPCA Victoria, we are offering cat and dog vaccinations with a registered vet for just $20. There are limited spots available on a first-come, first-serve basis and these must be pre-booked. For dates and locations: monash.vic.gov.au/pet-vaccination DID YOU KNOW? The most popular breeds of registered pets in Monash are: Dogs Cavoodle 1290, Cats Domestic Short Hair 3638. POETIC PORTRAITS: Share your story Calling all writers and people with a story to tell. We are partnering with RMIT University on Poetic Portraits, an intergenerational creative project to showcase the exceptional talent and diverse life experiences of different generations in Monash. Open to Monash residents ages 18-35 and ages 60+, participants will: * Craft two poetic pieces in a guided workshop on 3 May * Have your portrait taken to accompany your work  * Have your poems and portrait published in a custom book and exhibited to launch our Monash Seniors Festival for 2025. Expressions of interest are open on our website until 13 April. Please contact us if you have questions or cannot apply online. monash.vic.gov.au/poetic-portraits agewell@monash.vic.gov.au  9518 3555 (ask for the Age Well team) Page 5 We have got the right liner for you Choosing the right liners for your kitchen caddy can often mean navigating a minefield of frustration, searching for the option that best for our environment. We are making it easier. Save time and avoid confusion by purchasing a roll of the right compostable liners from your nearest Monash library branch or selected Council facilities. If you buy liners elsewhere, check they are lime green in colour and the bags have the exact seedling logo with "AS4736" underneath. That number means the liner is certified to break down completely within 12 weeks. Labels boasting “eco-friendly”, “biodegradable”, "plant-based” or "compostable (without the seedling logo)" can be misleading and the liners can contain plastic or leave plastic residue. This can ruin the quality of the compost created from our green bins and used by local farmers. Learn more monash.vic.gov.au/lining-your-caddy Become a recycling star   Ever wondered what happens to your food and garden waste? Do you need to brush-up on what waste goes in what bin? Want to learn how to reduce the amount of waste in your landfill (red) bin? We are running a series of online and in-person sessions designed to help you master the art of recycling and waste management. Session 1: Get your recycling right * Webinar (Zoom): Wednesday 2 April, 6pm-7pm * In-person workshop (Mount Waverley Community Centre): Thursday 10 April, 10.30am-11.30am Session 2: What to put in your green bin * Webinar (Zoom): Tuesday 13 May, 6pm-7pm * In-person workshop (Monash Civic Centre, Glen Waverley): Monday 12 May, 10.30am-11.30am To find out more, or book a place: monash.vic.gov.au/recycling-workshops MONASH at a glance RESERVE IMPROVEMENTS  Over the past two years, Council has improved local reserves, open space and dog off-leash areas with upgrades like signage, bins, dog poo bag dispensers, fencing, and drinking fountains with dog bowls. These improvements have enhanced accessibility, enriched the community outdoor experience, and helped people to get active with their dogs. More improvements are planned this year and into 2026.  monash.vic.gov.au/reserve-improvements  DETOX YOUR HOME Detox Your Home is back on at the Monash Operations Centre (next to the Recycling and Waste Centre, 380 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill) on Saturday 12 April. You can drop off accepted household chemicals like weed killers, cleaning products and insect sprays for free. These items can not be put in bins or poured down the drain. Book online at: monash.vic.gov.au/detox-your-home NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Come talk home safety at Neighbourhood Watch Monash open residents meeting on Wednesday 26 March, 7.30pm to 9pm, at Mount Waverley Community Centre (41 Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley). This meeting will focus on fire prevention and home safety with Fire Rescue Victoria Station Officer (and Waverley Park Ward Councillor) Shane McCluskey. No registration required. Walk-ins welcome. Learn more: nhwmonash.org.au Page 6 Have your Say at shape.monash.vic.gov.au Have your say on the Monash Flood Mapping Project  Our changing climate and urbanisation mean the frequency and severity of flooding activity is changing. We are working with Melbourne Water to update flood maps using the latest computer modelling; current rainfall and land development data; and, very importantly, your local knowledge. This will help us better plan and prepare for future flood events by assisting with emergency response to flooding; reducing flood risks for future development; and with our stormwater drainage management and maintenance. We want to find out more about your experiences of flooding in Monash - including locations, dates and photos. To view an interactive map and leave feedback and photos of your flooding experiences visit: shape.monash.vic.gov.au/flood-mapping You can also contact us at 9518 3555 or mail@monash.vic.gov.au We will also be holding community drop-in sessions at: * Clayton Library, Wednesday 2 April, 4pm-5.30pm * Oakleigh Library, Thursday 3 April, 10.30am-12pm * Glen Waverley Civic Centre, Thursday 3 April, 3.30pm-5pm Consultation closes Sunday 13 April 2025. Stay safe with Minky Swim School Learn vital life skills with Minky Swim School. Classes are fun and taught in a safe environment, leading to increased confidence in and around water. Being part of the Minky Swim School family comes with many benefits: * Small class sizes * School term-based program * No administration or joining fees * 40 per cent discount for some concession card holders * Heated pools for year-round swimming * Access to our pools outside of lesson times, including school holidays. We take water safety so seriously, we offer a FREE express program during the school holidays if your child does not advance to the next level after high attendance rates across three swim school terms. Get in touch to find out more and enrol at our Clayton and Glen Waverley centres. activemonash.vic.gov.au/learn-to-swim or call 9265 4888 WINTER SPORT is warming up Now the perfect time to start thinking ahead to your sporting pursuits for the coming winter season. Monash has 600 hectares of parks, gardens and reserves as well as excellent indoor sporting facilities catering for winter pursuits including football, soccer, rugby, baseball, netball, softball, basketball, golf and many more. Our online community directory is the perfect place to start looking. Sporting clubs can also update their listing, or include their information for the first time. monash.vic.gov.au/community-directory Page 7 Blackburn Ward Cr Rebecca PATERSON A new term, a new year and a new ward. It is a privilege to have been elected to the Blackburn ward, and I look forward to getting to know those of you I do not know and learning more about the local issues you want me to address.   Whilst plenty of time has passed and much has changed, there are some things that, unfortunately, have remained the same for a long time. I wrote last year in this column about the despair we all felt watching so many trees felled on private land across the City, while our suggested changes to planning controls that would provide sensible protection for canopy trees all over Monash languished on the planning minister desk.   I urged the Victorian Government to allow us to bring in interim controls while they considered our changes as well as considering how they might ensure adequate protections for canopy trees across the whole of Victoria.   Many of you reached out to me communicating your disappointment at the amount of tree loss you had witnessed in a place you moved to because of its “garden character” and asked what you could do.   When our rates notices were delivered in July last year, we included some more information on canopy protection and a postcard you could sign to be delivered to the planning minister. We will give you a detailed update in the next few months on how many of you responded and our further conversations with the Victorian Government.  I hope for our sake, and the sake of future generations, that the Victorian Government response will recognise the opportunity to make a lasting difference to the health and wellbeing of our community and environment.   Somebody once told me that the best time to plant a tree was yesterday, and the second best time to plant a tree is today. I am sure the same can be said for protecting trees. It is not easy or fast to replace what has been lost, but we can make better choices from today. Next Council Meetings Tuesday 25 March, 7pm/Tuesday 29 April, 7pm Monash Civic Centre, 293 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley Access meeting agendas and watch in-person or online: www.monash.vic.gov.au/meetings Your Councillors Banksia Ward, Cr Cameron Little, 0472 523 241, Cameron.Little@monash.vic.gov.au Blackburn Ward, Cr Rebecca Paterson, 0437 959 163, Rebecca.Paterson@monash.vic.gov.au Gallaghers Ward, Cr Geoff Lake, 0411 645 281, Geoff.Lake@monash.vic.gov.au Gardiners Creek Ward, Cr Anjalee de Silva, 0424 679 096, Anjalee.deSilva@monash.vic.gov.au Jells Ward, Cr Elisha Lee, 0461 305 956, Elisha.Lee@monash.vic.gov.au Mayfield Ward, Cr Brian Little | Deputy Mayor, 0407 878 033, Brian.Little@monash.vic.gov.au Scotchmans Creek Ward, Cr Nicky Luo, 0451 560 398, Nicky.Luo@monash.vic.gov.au University Ward, Cr Josh Fergeus, 0466 465 421, Josh.Fergeus@monash.vic.gov.au Warrigal Ward, Cr Stuart James, 0413 184 250, Stuart.James@monash.vic.gov.au Waverley Park Ward, Cr Shane McCluskey, 0466 345 406, Shane.McCluskey@monash.vic.gov.au Wellington Ward, Cr Paul Klisaris | Mayor, 9518 3524 | 0412 516 026, Paul.Klisaris@monash.vic.gov.au You can contact Councillors via phone or email. Letters can be mailed to: PO Box 1, Glen Waverley, VIC 3150 monash.vic.gov.au/Councillors Page 8 Whats on in Monash EcoConnect Festival Take part in an exciting festival that promotes and supports sustainable living. It will be packed full of activities such as a plant and produce swap, workshops, an author talk and free coffee cart. A wonderful opportunity to connect with your community and pick up some eco tips and tricks! Saturday 29 March, 10am-1pm, Wellington Reserve Community Centre, 36-42 Mackie Rd, Mulgrave. A partnership between Monash Public Libraries and Mackie Road Neighbourhood House. More info: monlib.vic.gov.au/ecoconnect LEST WE forget Monash residents are encouraged to attend local services to commemorate this year Anzac Day. Anzac Day ceremonies give people the opportunity to pay their respects for all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service. Ceremonies are organised by local Returned Services League (RSL) branches at Glen Waverley, Clayton and Oakleigh. Find out more about Anzac Day in Monash: call 9518 3555 or visit monash.vic.gov.au/anzac-day MONASH, start planting Waverley Garden Club annual Open Gardens Day, again supported by Council, will back for 2025. Expressions of interest are now open for enthusiasts who would like to open their gardens to the general public on Saturday 8 November. We are not looking for perfectly manicured gardens, just people who love gardening and would like to share their experience. For more information, and to register: Peter 0418 110 345, petermoskovic@gmail.com Mary 0430 185 511, mary.e.tai53@gmail.com CITY NATURE challenge  25 April - 28 April Once again, we are joining the City Nature Challenge, a worldwide event where people document the wildlife in their own city. Explore nature, find and take pictures of wildlife and share your observations. Your efforts can help scientists understand our local wildlife and environment better. Learn more about the challenge and join a local event: monash.vic.gov.au/city-nature-challenge Contact us Monash Civic Centre, 293 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley 8.30am-5pm, Monday to Friday Oakleigh Service Centre, 3 Atherton Road, Oakleigh 8.30am-5pm, Monday to Friday Call 9518 3555, email mail@monash.vic.gov.au, visit www.monash.vic.gov.au National Relay Service (for the hearing and speech impaired) phone 1800 555 660 We welcome your feedback at media@monash.vic.gov.au Copyright © 2024 Monash City Council. All Rights Reserved; reproduction in any form will require Council written approval. Monash Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land that makes up Monash, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Information in the April Bulletin 2025 is current at the time of going to print on 28 February 2025. Snap Send Solve is a great app to report through to us what needs fixing visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/snap-send-solve